Chronology of Coverage

Feb. 20, 2015

Murder trial of Eddie Ray Routh, who has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to killing celebrated sniper Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield, establishes detailed and emotional history of men, but no clear picture of Routh's motives; both Routh and Kyle grew up in same Dallas suburb and served in same war, though Routh had far more difficulty adapting to civilian life after returning home. MORE

Feb. 18, 2015

Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan wars serving in Congress are expected to play important role in deciding scope of Pres Obama's authority to launch military campaign against Islamic State. MORE

Feb. 10, 2015

Editorial urges Congress to support Pres Obama in closing loophole in federal law that allows for-profit colleges to exploit veterans' GI Bill benefits, proposal that is included in 2016 budget; argues that closing loophole would be first step in cleaning up industry that has long history of deceptive or illegal practices. MORE

Feb. 9, 2015

Editorial praises Congress for unanimously passing measure to improve suicide prevention and mental health treatment for veterans; observes legislation is aimed at a very real problem, with estimated 22 veterans killing themselves daily; urges Congress to carry out law with same bipartisan spirit, and go on to address issues of veteran unemployment and homelessness. MORE

Feb. 6, 2015

Advocate Chris Marvin and colleagues rate portrayal of veterans in four recent films and television shows. MORE

Feb. 6, 2015

Veterans and veterans groups are pushing back against what they see as a debilitating stereotype of the 'broken hero'; Got Your 6, advocacy group founded by retired army pilot Chris Marvin, has emerged as movement's marketing arm; group is pushing writers, television networks and Hollywood executives to present more nuanced image of the veteran experience. MORE

Feb. 4, 2015

Senate unanimously passes bill aimed at improving suicide prevention and mental health care for veterans; passage of bill, named for Clay Hunt, veteran who killed himself in 2011, represents rare moment of bipartisan agreement. MORE

Jan. 30, 2015

Veterans Affairs Dept moves to settle three-year-old lawsuit brought on behalf of 4,000 homeless veterans in Los Angeles; pledges to build permanent and transitional housing on 387-acre tract near Brentwood neighborhood that was deeded to government in 1888 to house disabled veterans; project will also include other locations. MORE

Jan. 30, 2015

Editorial applauds Veterans Affairs Dept decision to use portions of its Los Angeles property for housing veterans; criticizes both department and city officials, however, for former misuse of property and lack of veteran housing; commends Veterans Affairs Sec Robert McDonald for moving to rectify situation; contends that problem of veteran homelessness cannot be addressed without changes in Los Angeles. MORE

Jan. 9, 2015

Veterans Wayne R Cubs and John Robbins file separate lawsuits against town of Rutherford, NJ, alleging discrimination and favoritism in passing them over for police force; town's municipal government is accused of being rife with nepotism, and of history of discrimination against veterans. MORE

Jan. 8, 2015

Lt Col Daniel Gade, professor of public policy at West Point, has begun campaign arguing that Veterans Affairs Dept should move away from paying disability to veterans and instead create incentives for them to work or create businesses; Gade, veteran who lost a leg in combat, says disability checks can keep veterans locked in idleness and diminish their sense of self worth. MORE

Jan. 8, 2015

El Paso authorities release names of two men who died in shooting at Department of Veterans Affairs mental health clinic at Fort Bliss; say Army veteran Jerry Serrato killed psychologist Timothy Fjordbak before shooting himself. MORE

Jan. 7, 2015

Bernard Jordan, British veteran of World War II who walked away from nursing home in England to attend celebrations of 70th anniversay of D-Day in France, dies at age 90; he became known as the Great Escaper after his adventure in June 2014, and returned to home a quasi-hero. MORE

Jan. 7, 2015

Officials in El Paso, Tex, report fatal shooting at VA Health Care clinic on Fort Bliss Army base; gunman apparently shot doctor at the facility and then killed himself. MORE

Jan. 1, 2015

Many American troops still remain involved with operations in Afghanistan, despite official end of war, and other soldiers and their families will continue to grapple with injuries, mental trauma and loss of loved ones; scaled-down Operation Resolute Support will continue bringing troops overseas to train and advise Afghan forces, even as sense of overall mission fades; some troops, veterans and those close to them say they already feel forgotten. MORE

Dec. 31, 2014

Former Air Force Staff Sergeant Daniel Mould, who was wounded in chemical weapon accident in 2004, helped military study his burns for 18 months and expanded doctors' knowledge, but says he was not tracked after retiring in 2006; Army announced that it will begin monitoring longterm health of all veterans exposed to chemical agents during American occupation of Iraq, but only after New York Times inquired about Mould's case. MORE

Dec. 26, 2014

Filings before federal administration board show top Veterans Affairs Department officials knew of problems with delays at Veterans Affairs hospital in Phoenix long before scandal erupted in spring 2014; questions remain as to why officials did not do more to address shortages of doctors and other hospital staff; documents are connected to case of Phoenix hospital director Sharon Helman, whose lawyers say was 'scapegoated' when she was fired. MORE

Dec. 24, 2014

Federal administrative Judge Stephen C Mish upholds dismissal of Sharon Helman as director of Veterans Affairs health care system in Phoenix for misconduct including accepting gifts; says department did not prove that she manipulated waiting lists, resulting in delays for veteran care. MORE

Dec. 17, 2014

OutVets, group of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender veterans, will be allowed to march in Boston's St Patrick's Day parade for the first time in history. MORE

Nov. 25, 2014

Veterans Affairs Dept fires Sharon Helman, director of its Phoenix Center, six months after it was revealed that hospital employees had manipulated wait lists to hide long delays many veterans faced to see doctors; Helman had previously been placed on administrative leave, but was formally removed after pressure from Republicans in Congress. MORE

Nov. 12, 2014

Concert for Valor on the National Mall in Washington draws thousands of veterans and active-duty service members; free music event on Veteran's Day is attempt by organizers to bridge growing distance between civilians and 1 percent of Americans who serve in the military. MORE

Nov. 11, 2014

Veterans Affairs Dept announces plans for new customer service bureau to help train employees to focus on customer satisfaction and have facilities forge tighter bonds with local groups and lawmakers. MORE

Nov. 11, 2014

Op-Ed article by retired Army Lieutenant Gen Daniel P Bolger calls on Americans and veterans in particular to abandon false narratives surrounding the failed wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; calls for a nonpartisan assessment of both engagements, since that will provide much-needed sobriety as America contemplates an ill-advised ground offensive against the Islamic State in Iraq. MORE

Nov. 11, 2014

Joe Sharkey On the Road column observes some airport donations help provide care packages to troops overseas, military families and veterans, while United Airlines offers an airfare discount--for $60 annual fee. MORE

Nov. 10, 2014

Vilonia Journal; Museum of Veterans and Military History in Vilonia, Ark, is in midst of revival; museum was destroyed by powerful tornado in April, but volunteers and supporters have retrieved much of its collection and erected new building that should withstand future storms. MORE

Nov. 9, 2014

Veterans Affairs Dept, led by Robert A McDonald, has been recruiting doctors-in-training to fill staffing shortfalls that over time could jeopardize care for millions of veterans; push is part of effort to rectify personnel crisis that contributed to delays in care and scandal surrounding department's manipulated wait list. MORE

Nov. 7, 2014

Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert A McDonald says changing culture of agency is key to improving health care system for veterans; points out wait times for patients at Phoenix veterans’ hospital, center of scandal over delays in care, have dropped by 37 percent and notes wait times at veterans' hospitals across nation are going down as well. MORE

Nov. 7, 2014

Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, organized by Marine Corps spouses, provides financial aid and lifetime support to ill, injured and wounded post 9/11 service members, offering rehabilitation through a variety of sports; the horsemanship program can be especially therapeutic as horses provide healing unconditional love. MORE

Nov. 6, 2014

New York City Investigation Dept report reveals so-called 'rent a vet' scheme among food vendors outside Metropolitan Museum of Art; some vendors were found to be exploiting 19th-century state law providing vendor licenses to disabled veterans; investigation revealed number of non-veteran food cart owners who paid disabled veterans to remain near cart and show specialized license if approached by law enforcement. MORE

Nov. 2, 2014

Maureen Dowd Op-Ed column highlights efforts on part of Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz to help veterans; notes the profound disconnect between many Americans and members of American military. MORE

Oct. 31, 2014

Advertising column; Scripps Networks Interactive is preparing hourlong Veteran's Day special that will air on all six of its cable channels; program is centered on the celebration of Hawaiian homecoming for a wounded serviceman, and will solicit donations for the United Service Organizations. MORE

Oct. 30, 2014

Pentagon will offer medical examinations and long-term health monitoring to service members and veterans who were exposed to chemical warfare agents in Iraq as part of review of how the military handled encounters with thousands of abandoned chemical munitions during the American occupation; review was ordered by Defense Sec Chuck Hagel in response to New York Times investigation revealing that military kept hazardous exposures secret for years. MORE

Oct. 17, 2014

Susan Taylor and John Goldman, executives that had been selected for termination over cover-ups at the Department of Veterans Affairs, retire abruptly before they could be fired; new law makes it easier to terminate executives who were responsible for problems at VA hospitals. MORE

Oct. 14, 2014

On Nov. 10 a Wall Street Rocks concert will raise money for military veterans and first responders. MORE

Oct. 10, 2014

Pentagon is planning 50th anniversary commemoration of the Vietnam War; effort, which is expected to cost taxpayers nearly $15 million by the end of 2014 fiscal year, is intended to honor veterans; leading Vietnam historians complain, however, that website focuses on dozens of medal-winning soldiers while giving scant mention to mistakes by generals and years of violent protests and anguished debate at home. MORE

Sep. 21, 2014

National effort to eliminate homelessness among veterans has made significant strides, placing 51,000 veterans in housing; advocates say program gives veterans stability of housing before tackling underlying problems with drugs or mental health; 50,000 veterans remain homeless, however, and programs future is in jeopardy. MORE

Sep. 18, 2014

Acting Department of Veterans Affairs inspector general Richard J Griffin, in contentious hearing before Congress, acknowledges for first time that delays in care had contributed to deaths of patients at department's medical center in Phoenix. MORE

Sep. 10, 2014

Veterans Affairs Dept acting inspector general Richard J Griffin testifies at Senate hearing that administrators at 13 health care facilities run by the VA have lied to investigators looking into the extent of waiting-list manipulation and other improprieties; also says his office has found many instances of department administrators being involved in plots to hide delays in patient care. MORE

Sep. 9, 2014

Robert A McDonald, new secretary of Veterans Affairs, says hiring spree is needed to meet patient demands at department's hospitals and clinics; pledges also to flatten department's hierarchical structure, eliminate benchmarks that created unintended incentives to manipulate waiting-time data, transform management culture and make it easier for veterans to receive care. MORE

Sep. 4, 2014

Defense Dept releases new rules that could grant upgrades to thousands of Vietnam-era veterans who have been barred from receiving benefits due to less-than-honorable discharges; rules offer first guidance to military discharge review boards on how to address post-traumatic stress disorder. MORE

Aug. 27, 2014

Pres Obama, speaking at American Legion's national convention, promises several thousand military veterans that he will overhaul dysfunctional health care system; speech comes as inspector general at Veterans Affairs Dept releases report on long delays and falsified waiting lists at veterans medical center in Phoenix, where whistle-blowers allege 40 veterans died because of delays in care. MORE

Aug. 26, 2014

Federal investigation is unable to substantiate allegations that 40 veterans may have died due to delays in care at veterans medical center in Phoenix; Veterans Affairs Sec Sloan D Gibson cautions that even though report does not confirm allegations, agency remains culpable for covering up long waiting times in Phoenix and other medical centers. MORE

Aug. 23, 2014

American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial will open in October 2014 in Washington, DC, first memorial to honor living as well as the dead; it is only monument in Washington dedicated solely to those who have been disabled in nation's wars. MORE

Aug. 10, 2014

Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert A McDonald, in his first public address since taking the helm of embattled agency, vows to restore trust in the agency; says he will initiate independent audit of its scheduling practices and hold poorly performing officials accountable. MORE

Aug. 8, 2014

Pres Obama signs bill that will expand access to health care for veterans and strengthen power of Veteran Affairs Dept leader to clean up abuses in its troubled network of hospitals. MORE

Aug. 8, 2014

Study to be presented at American Psychological Assn finds that most veterans who had persistent post-traumatic stress a decade or more after serving in Vietnam War have shown surprisingly little improvement since then; analysis is part of first effort to track large, nationally representative sample of service members through their adult lives. MORE

Aug. 1, 2014

First Lady Michelle Obama details progress of administration's effort to end homelessness among military veterans by end of 2015, saying Phoenix and Salt Lake City have already eliminated chronic homelessness among their veterans, and New Orleans is expected to do the same within six months; more than 180 mayors, governors and other leaders have joined effort. MORE

Aug. 1, 2014

Jul. 29, 2014

House and Senate negotiators announce agreement on legislation that allocates about $17 billion to overhaul Veterans Affairs Dept's sprawling and beleaguered health care system; some details still need to be worked out, but, if approved, legislation would end standoff over how much to spend to begin to fix the department, and it would help ensure that veterans who face long waits to see doctors at the department's facilities could get appointments more quickly with private physicians. MORE

Jul. 17, 2014

Sloan D Gibson, acting secretary for Veterans Affairs Dept, tells Senate committee that fixing problems that led to medical appointment waiting-list scandal at VA will cost $17.6 billion over next three years, requiring the hiring 1,500 doctors and 8,500 nurses and other clinicians at VA hospitals. MORE

The 101-year-old war veteran who was tied up and robbed in his Ottawa home in December, then left to suffocate with a plastic bag over his head, only to free himself and call the police, has died of natural causes.

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Daniel Mould, a former staff sergeant in an explosive ordnance disposal team, was wounded in a chemical weapons accident after the police found a rusted artillery projectile at a chicken farm in Delaware in the summer of 2004.